The Essential Role of Primary Health Care for Health Security

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Global Health Security

Background:

• Primary health care is crucial for health equity, behavioral health, and pandemic resilience.
• A 2023 meeting convened global experts to discuss revitalizing primary care in the US and advancing primary health care worldwide.
• The National Academy of Medicine's report emphasized federal leadership for strengthening US primary care, especially for underserved populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore challenges and opportunities in investing in primary health care as a common good.
• To catalyze action toward revitalizing primary care in the United States.
• To align global efforts for advancing primary health care and improving health security.

Main Methods:

• Convening of primary health care experts from over 20 countries, WHO, and HHS agencies.
• Informed by the NASEM's critical primary care report.
• Discussion of special communications highlighting the evolution from primary care to primary health care and public health collaboration.

Main Results:

• Consensus among global stakeholders on the importance of Primary Health Care for health equity, behavioral health, health security, and pandemic resilience.
• A year after the meeting, the anticipated HHS Action Plan to guide primary care recommendations has not been launched.
• Individual agencies are progressing with initiatives, but a unified plan is missing.

Conclusions:

• A coordinated federal strategy, like an HHS Action Plan, is essential for a US health system centered on Primary Health Care.
• The absence of a comprehensive plan represents a missed opportunity to unite stakeholders and advance primary health care.
• Continued external scientific expertise is necessary to inform US federal government coordination efforts for primary health care.